WisCorps to offer county some help

Ozaukee County parks officials learned last week that they will get some volunteer help for tree-planting efforts.

In April, they were informed that AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps volunteers won’t be coming to help with the work as they had for many years due to President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency that cut funding for the organization, along with many other government programs, in an effort to slash the size of the federal government.

That in particular put a crimp in plans to develop the Clay Bluff Cedar Gorge Nature Preserve, on which plans call for planting 60,000 trees this year.

Recently, a group of volunteers and county staff were called on to plant more than 8,000 trees at the nature preserve.

“It was all hands on deck. But it worked out pretty well,” County Planning and Parks Director Andrew Struck told members of the county Natural Resources Committee.

While funding for AmeriCorps remains uncertain, partial funding still exists for WisCorps, the state-run version of the federal program, he said.

Because WisCorps is paid a fee by agencies that utilize their services, they can continue to operate, although at a lesser level, Struck said.

Struck said he expects two four-person crews to arrive this summer. Normally, there would be six-person crews, he said.

“It’s going to be a struggle for (WisCorps)” to meet the demands put on them, he said.

Struck also has put out a call for volunteers and several organizations and some individuals have responded.

He acknowledged that his office isn’t set up to handle large numbers of volunteers but said he may plan a few volunteer days to mobilize those who want to help.

A delay in tree planting and other work at the 132-acre preserve on the bluff on Port’s south side could set back its opening to the public and development of trails, boardwalks and bathrooms and other amenities.

As for other federal grants his office manages, Struck said “everything seems to be moving forward. There doesn’t seem to be any issues at this point.”

County Land and Water Management Director Katie Vogeler told supervisors that the grant funding has been paused for the Demonstration Farm Network, an organization that showcases conservation practices to reduce phosphorus and sediment runoff from entering watersheds.